MACH,
the world leader in direct operator billing, and mobile payments leader payvia,
today announced a partnership to integrate their carrier billing
technologies providing customers with seamless worldwide mobile payment
platforms. Building on the partnership, MACH will shortly launch its Direct
Carrier Billing service in the US, leveraging payvia’s US footprint
and relationships with the main mobile operators. This carrier billing
service for app, in-app and online purchases, makes it easier than ever
for end-users to complete transactions via their mobile phones.

payvia and MACH’s platforms monetize services for developers, app
stores, online merchants and other content providers, opening a brand
new revenue stream and letting them maximize revenues from online,
in-app and app billing. By bringing their direct carrier billing
technologies together in a seamless global platform, the partners will
extend this frictionless payment option that is more secure, fast and
convenient than both credit card and premium SMS billing. The ability to
buy without a credit card also offers subscribers a more secure channel
through which to pay for app and in-app goods, giving them peace of mind
that they are not compromising sensitive information while making their
purchases.

Michael De Jongh, Global Head of Sales, Mobile Billing and Payments,
MACH, commented: ”MACH is committed to making the monetization of
services easier for our customers. Through our Direct
Billing Gateway, we offer a comprehensive billing service
which provides the glue to unite application stores, content providers
and merchants with carriers. payvia’s trusted brand and leadership in
direct carrier billing in the US market makes them an ideal partner to
bring our solution to the country. We are looking forward to redefining
the mobile payment landscape together.”

payvia will leverage MACH’s European footprint and market strength to
extend the benefits of its direct carrier billing platform to merchants
who require a global roll-out with the same consistency, simplicity and
speed payvia provides to customers in the US.

Darcy Wedd, President, payvia, commented: “MACH shares our view that
carrier billing offers unique benefits over other mobile payment
technologies and the company’s heritage in delivering frictionless
payments for major application stores and merchants makes them an ideal
partner for us. Direct operator billing offers a superior checkout on
the mobile device and boosts the mobile ecosystem through new revenue
streams which is why we strongly believe it to be the payment model of
the future.”

Direct carrier billing for mobile applications, content and mobile
internet services, allows providers to charge subscribers for services
direct to their mobile phone bill or pre-paid balance. This creates a
signficantly improved user-experience through the enhanced ‘One-Click’
purchase process and delivers greatly enhanced transaction completion
rates. By removing the need for cumbersome Premium SMS or credit card
payments, it increases the likelihood of customers continuing through to
purchase.

-ENDS-

About payvia

payvia is a leading mobile and online payments company that allows
consumers to make simple and secure payments via their mobile phone. By
connecting directly to the carrier network, payvia enables consumers to
pay for digital goods and services using their mobile phone, adding
purchases directly to their carrier bill.

payvia is headquartered in Los Angeles, with offices in Seattle and
Boston and is part of the m-Qube, Inc. group, the leading carrier
billing transaction network, with a heritage that has seen nearly $2
billion paid out to merchants and developers. payvia is backed by
leading investors Silver Lake Sumeru, Montgomery & Co., and Trinity
Ventures. Visit us at www.usepayvia.com.

About MACH

MACH is the leading provider of cloud-based, managed communications
services for monetizing mobile data, simplifying interoperability
between networks, optimizing wholesale processes and protecting
revenues. It is fast becoming the provider of choice for real-time,
value added services that are essential for communications service
providers around the globe to enhance customer experience, optimize
wholesale processes and monetize their businesses in 3G and 4G mobile
ecosystems. With its long heritage in data and financial clearing,
settlement and hub based connectivity models, it provides its 650
operator customers with state-of-the-art tools needed to align business
processes. Headquartered in Luxembourg, MACH has offices in 12
countries. Its customers include Orange, Telefonica, T-Mobile, Telus,
Verizon Wireless and Microsoft, as well as enterprise messaging
customers like KLM. For more information, visit www.mach.com,
follow MACHconnects
on Twitter or read The
MACH Blog.